Webalice olivia martinez, known to everyone as ma harper, helped start fiesta's taste of new orleans and is still cooking after more than 30 years. Webma harper is a restaurant owner, mother, grandmother, and retired airplane mechanic. She also founded taste of new orleans. Ma harper stopped by great day. Webin interviews, alice “ma” harper openly shares her religious faith and it makes perfect sense — one taste of her gumbo makes it very clear her talent comes. Weba woman who's spent a lifetime learning to give back. I'll be 90 years old in august, said harper. Anyone who walks through her doors is a friend to ma. Websan antonio legend alice ma harper is famous for always offering help and never asking for any. Webafter becoming a household name in san antonio, ma says she is happy and relieved to know that the “ma harper” name is not going anywhere. Webma harper's creole kitchen, san antonio: See 31 unbiased reviews of ma harper's creole kitchen, rated 4. 5 of 5 on tripadvisor and ranked #415 of 2,752 restaurants in.